ITServices

File Storage & Sharing Service Comparison

ITS provisions three distinct services for secure file storage and sharing.How can you tell which is the right service for you?Consult the information below for guidance.

Service Summaries

OneDRIVE FOr BUSINESS

OneDrive for Business is part of Microsoft Office 365, Queen's chosen suite of collaboration tools. It is a secure web-based service (meaning you don't need to download anything onto your personal machine to use it) that can be accessed anytime, anywhere you have a network connection. It offers huge storage capacity (1 terabyte per person - that's 1,000 gigabytes!!), easy permissions management for file sharing, and the ability for multiple people to collaborate on the same document at the same time. Files can be shared to Queen's and to non-Queen's users. You can also synchronize your files across multiple devices (desktops, laptops, tablets, phones).

Note: OneDrive for Business is not intended as departmental file share space. It is affiliated with individual users' NetIDs. The departmental version of OneDrive for Business is called SharePoint Team Sites, which is not yet available at Queen's.

Active Directory

Active Directory (AD) File Share Service is a secure way for departments to store work-related files. Access is controlled via file permissions that are managed by ITS. AD File Service can only be accessed off-campus by using Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client or ITS's terminal server. Base storage is allocated at 25GB per departmental FTE, with additional storage available for a fee. AD File Share Service is backed up using Queen's TSM backup solution.

Note: AD File Share Service is available to departments.

QShare

QShare is a secure online file storage, distribution and sharing solution for the Queen’s community. It is available using a web interface for anytime, anywhere access, and also through a mapped drive client for use on your local machine. Users can manage their own file and folder permissions, and it is also possible to extend file or folder permissions to non-Queen's users. Base storage is allocated at 200MB for individual users and 10GB for departmental space, with additional storage available for a fee. QShare is backed up using Queen's TSM backup solution.

Note: QShare is available for both individual users and for departmental spaces.

Service Comparison Table

Please consult the table below for at-a-glance information about which file storage solution is right for you.